Humidifying apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936. E. SOUTHWORTH HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 have]; to! Z'dwazvfi'oatlzworth Patented Nov. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Edward Southworth, Portland, Maine, assignor to Southworth Machine Company, Portland,

Maine, a corporation of Maine Application November 1, 1934, Serial No. 751,015

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to mechanical humidifiers and particularly those of the old rotary water disc type in which was provided a peripheral barrier of blades or obstructions upon which the centrifugated water film was impinged and disrupted to an axially or outwardly directed vapor discharge which was picked up by the surrounding air current and thus dispersed in the general atmosphere of the room.

Various types of these old humidifiers have been developed for different industries. Of these, two fields may be differentiated as to limitation and desired function and operation of the humidifier.

The original field in the textile industry type was under the immediate handicap of floating fibre or lint, while the cleaner, lint free air of the press or like room of the printing trade imposed no such difiiculties or limitations. The difference is apparent in the prior art and reflected in the succession of patents as engineers were confronted with various phases of industrial conditions.

My present invention is applicable to most of these fields of humidifications, but perhaps is best illustrated in its improvement of humidification under the limitations of the textile industry although not at all limited to that field.

My present invention consists of certain improvements over the prior art by which more efiicient and satisfactory humidification may be effected under practical working requirements.

In order to illustrate the relation of my present invention to the fundamentals of the art, I have shown in the accompanying drawings certain simple embodiments which will serve as a basis of later discussion.

While these types, so illustrated, might to an extent be thought misleading by reason of resemblance to earlier forms, I have utilized them because they show on true comparison with the older types with which I have worked, where and how my present concept departed. Thus others may apply my new basis of interpretation to their problems by carrying forward older designs which have had their own proven range of satisfaction and reasonable efliciency. The older tried forms familiar to the user afford the best educational approach to a conversion to new advances.

The types herein suggested in the drawings are those found generally adapted to the printing and textile industries, although well adapted or adaptable to other air conditioning as in homes, ofiices, trains or other places where humidifiqaq tion is necessary to offset conditions of aridity in the local atmosphere.

The various improvements in structure and operation will be more fully discussed in the following specification in supplement to the illus- 5 trative disclosures of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of. a head embodying my invention, the casings being broken away to expose interior parts which in turn are partly sectioned.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such a head and its supporting bracket.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3, of Fig. 1 showing a fragment of the impact blades in elevation and an enlarged section of the drip l5 gutter.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the head with disc and closed back wall of casing broken away to expose the gear box interior.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of a casing for use 20 in a head for direct drive, and

Fig. 6 shows a detail of the swivel support for the bracket arm.

As shown in the drawings, I preferably provide a circular fixed case 2 with a surrounding flange or gutter 3 at its periphery and open at the front as at 4. The lower portion of the flange 3 is provided with lip 3 which defines a gutter proper which is drained by a waste pipe 5 which discharges into a catch basin 6 drained as at 1. v The casing 2 is fitted with a gear box I having a socket l receiving the end of a stud l2 carried by the bracket arm l2.

Within the casing 2 is the usual rotatable disc 9, mounted on a short shaft 40 and driven by a gear 4| through the gear train 42-4344 on the shaft 45 so as to provide for an increased speed of rotation for the disc 9. The shaft 45 is coupled as at III to the end of the shaft of motor ll be-' tween which and the casing 2 is mounted a fan 40 20 effective to create a fiow of air away from the motor and about the casing without blowing such air currents directly against the disc 9. The usual obstruction of this type is in the present embodiment in the form of a. cylindrical sleeve I5 clamped about a flange formed on the inner face of the casing 2 by opposed tangential tightening screws l8 so that the teeth I! formed on the edge of the disc l5 lie just outside of the edge of the water discharging disc 9 which receives a regulated stream of water from the feed l3 which may be directed as usual on to its interior surface adjacent its central portion at which it is clamped as at 30 to the shaft 40. The water feed is controlled by a valve 23 in its supply line to control the rate of the flow and the peripheral delivery rate of the disc 9. By this, according to my present concept I am able to coordinate centrifugal impact velocities with rate of supply flow and air flow.

The blades 11 within the flange or gutter 3 or 3 are directed towards the open face 4 of the case 2 so that the vapor passes freely outwardly and away, any unvaporized water flowing down to the gutter 3 and drain pipe 5.

In the form shown the casing 2 is preferably imperforate and acts to shield the formation of the vapors at the edge of the disc 9 as the water is discharged against the teeth l1. However, this matter of the admission or development of air currents within the vaporizing head is a matter of adjustment to local conditions. As indicated in the prior art, the admission of air to the interior of the head depends on the conditions under which the head is operating. Theoretically, a certain amount of air within the head is highly desirable. Practically, where such air contains floating lint the admission of the air may work for difficulties that may be desirable to avoid. In some forms I provide for the perforation of the casing outside of the zone of vaporization. This admits a certain amount of air to the interior of the casing and relieves any back pressure that might be developed so that the vaporized spray may be freely discharged axially of the disc and into the path of the surrounding air current.

In order to provide for a reasonably directed flow ofair from the fan 20 to the edge of the casing 2 and maintain it with reasonable definiteness as to volume and rate of fiow, I provide a slightly flaring outer shell or funnel 50 extending from the fan forwardly to the casing 2. The shell 50 is supported at its rear within a cradle 5| and at its forward end rests on a collar 52 on the post I2 The motor II is supported on a post H set in a socket I2 in the casing. The arm I2 is in turn supported by a bracket 60 adapted to be carried on a wall or column wherever it is desired to have the apparatus positioned.

The bracket 60 has opposite its wall plate 6| a vertical socket 62 on which the corresponding bearing 63 on the arm l2 seats, being held in place by a pintle 65 clamped by set screws 64 so that the machine may be directed at any angle or made to be swung in any direction desired. (See Fig. 6.)

As has been well known in machines of this type from their genesis the extent of humidity produced depends upon the amount of water supplied by the nozzle such as l3 and the speed of the disc such as 9. It was attempted to base adjustments in the degree of humidity by controlling the supply of water. At this point I would also call attention to another related factor which is that of the rate of rotation of the disc and more particularly its peripheral speed.

The size of the apparatus and the size of the enclosed disc depended somewhat on the place where the humidifier was to be used, but usually such humidifiers are relatively small machines which can be conveniently mounted in positions out of the way in mill or press room so that their combined discharge covers the area in which the work is being done and over which the humidity of the atmosphere is to be attained.

For example, for a disc of given diameter, say 13 driven by an electric motor providing say 3450 R. P. M. a definite rate of discharge is (1 termined. While the amount of water thus discharged can be somewhat regulated as by the valve 23, its rate of vaporizing discharge in coaction with the teeth I1 is really a combination of these two factors. The rate of discharge is very important to determine because it is desired that the discharged vapor be taken up and dispersed in a body of air moving at a rate adapted to completely receive it and transport it without precipitation. The impulsive rate of the fan 20 is therefore a factor in creating such an air current.

The column of air induced by the fan blades 20 which are principally effective towards their outer ends depends upon the pitch of the blades and the rate of their rotation. I have not attempted to illustrate this exactly as it is a factor which must of necessity be varied according to conditions. Assuming, however, that the design of such a fan as is indicated at 20 is such as to induce an air flow or movement of atmosphere through the casing 50 of predetermined volume and rate, this may be controlled as a definite factor. By basing the circulation or flow of air on present standards, I find that the rate of vaporization should be increased. For a disc of say approximately 13 in diameter, rotating at 4700 R. P. M. we have an inadequate supply of vapor for the surrounding air current. I therefore propose to increase the productivity of vapor without enlarging the diameter of the disc by introducing a change speed element such as I have indicated in the gear train 41-44. By this I am able to increase speeds, as for example, in current practice to peripheral speeds of 16,000 to 17,000 feet per minute by reason of which the rate of vapor discharge is brought to a more efficient accordance to that of the air flow about the vaporizer.

In this connection I would note that without exception to the foregoing, under certain circumstances I may provide a direct drive as indicated in Fig. 5 which under corresponding circumstances would only produce from 12,000 to 13,000 feet per minute for the peripheral acceleration. It is to be recognized that such a direct drive is dependent on the motor and this becomes very important in localities where the character of the motor possible for the available current is limited. According to my invention it is possible to use motors of lower frequency such as are capable of use under more general service conditions. It will therefore be understood that my present concept involves a new adjustment of the relation between the air flow produced by an impeller or like fan such as 20 confined within reasonable limits of discharge to the discharge of the humidifier. Conversely, my concept provides for a control of the humidifying rate of vapor discharge as previously indicated. The desired resultant of these two factors is one that must be balanced by the establishment of a relation of the factors developed in the design of the particular apparatus that is to be used.

I have established to my own satisfaction certain relationship which in practice produces the desired results. I reserve, however, the right to establish by investigation those critical relationships which will constitute the future method basis by which my present concept can be carried into ultimate performance.

The mounting of the motor I I on its adjustable supporting post I 1 makes it possible accurately to adjust the motor shaft in such alignment with the shaft 40 at the water disc 9 that a flexible connector such as [4 provides for any emergency. The

swivel mount It is provided with a bottom bearing screw l2 and clamping screws I2 The combined gear casing and protective shell I, 2 are also adjustable on the post I2 and clamped in alignment by suitable set screws l in the socket I I also provide by this construction for an interchangeability of parts by which there may be substituted for the high speed vaporizer a modified form of casing 2A having a shaft bearing IA for a shaft 40A and a gutter or flange 3A. This casing is provided with a socket IB like that shown in Fig. 1 by which it can be mounted on the stud l 2 so that it can be substituted in the general construction shown in Fig. 1. In this modification, however, I have also shown the gutter or flange of the case 3A as of a curved or rounded channel type having the lower part of its interior channel provided with a frame as at 3B to provide a water pocket or trap drained by the usual nipple 5B. This may be variously curved or formed to get any desired resultant effect in the vaporization and discharge.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that without sacrifice of the original principles of this type of humidifier I have avoided many of the difficulties and provided new improvements. The apparatus shown and described while presented as illustrative of my invention is simple and satisfactory.

Various modifications may be made in the head construction and while the bracket shown is very convenient and satisfactory, such humidifiers may be variously bracketed or suspended, according to their location.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a humidifier apparatus, a supporting bracket, an arm swiveled thereto between its ends, and having a cradle adjacent one end, a motor supported at the arm end next to the cradle, a vaporizer casing having a socket, a supporting stud set in the arm and having its end entered in said casing socket, a fan on the motor shaft between the motor and casing, an enclosing funnel extending from the fan at one end and supported in the cradle and extending to adjacent the edge of the vaporizer casing and apertured to receive the casing supporting stud, and an adjustable collar on said stud for supporting the funnel end opposite said cradle support.

2. In a humidifier apparatus, a supporting bracket, an arm swiveled thereto between its ends,

and having a cradle adjacent one end, a motor supporting post adjustably mounted in the arm end next to the cradle, a vaporizer casing having a socket, a supporting stud set in the arm and having its end entered in said casing socket, a rotatable disc shaft in said casing, a motor on said supporting post and having its shaft aligned with said disc shaft, a fan on the motor shaft between the motor and vaporizer casing, an enclosing funnel extending from the fan at one end and supported in the cradle and extending to adjacent the edge of the vaporizer casing and apertured to receive the casing supporting stud, and an adjustable collar on said stud for supporting the funnel end opposite said cradle support.

3. In humidifying apparatus, a motor, a motor shaft, a fan on said shaft, a vaporizer casing, a rotatable shaft in said casing, an air funnel extending from the fan to said casing, a supporting bracket, an arm swivelled thereto, a motor supporting post at one end of said arm, a cradle on said arm supporting said funnel at its fan end, a casing supporting stud, and a collar on said stud for supporting the vaporizer end of the funnel.

4. In humidifying apparatus, a motor, a motor shaft, a fan on said shaft, a vaporizer casing, a rotatable shaft in said casing, an air funnel extending from the fan to said casing, a supporting bracket, an arm swivelled thereto, a motor supporting post at one end of said arm, a cradle on said arm supporting said funnel at its fan end, a casing supporting stud, a collar on said stud for supporting the vaporizer end of the funnel, and means for adjusting said motor supporting post and said casing stud to align said motor shaft and casing shaft.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4, in which there is a flexible connection between said motor shaft and said casing shaft.

6. In humidifying apparatus, a motor, a motor shaft, a fan on said shaft, a vaporizer casing, an air funnel extending from the fan to said casing, means for supporting said apparatus, means for adjusting the position of said apparatus relative to said supporting means, means carried by said supporting means for adjustably positioning said vaporizer casing and air funnel relative to said motor shaft, and means adjustably positioning said motor and shaft.

EDWARD SOUTHWORTH. 

